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Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by William J. Webb (Author), Darrell L. Bock (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 157 ratings
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In Slaves, Women Homosexuals William J. Webb tackles some of the most complex and controversial issues that have challenged the Christian church--and still do. He leads you through the maze of interpretation that has historically surrounded understanding of slaves, women and homosexuals, and he evaluates various approaches to these and other biblical-ethical teachings. Throughout, Webb attempts to "work out the hermeneutics involved in distinguishing that which is merely cultural in Scripture from that which is timeless" (Craig A. Evans). By the conclusion, Webb has introduced and developed a "redemptive hermeneutic" that can be applied to many issues that cause similar dilemmas. Darrel L. Bock writes in the foreword to Webb's work, "His goal is not only to discuss how these groups are to be seen in light of Scriptures but to make a case for a specific hermeneutical approach to reading these texts. . . . This book not only advances a discussion of the topics, but it also takes a markedly new direction toward establishing common ground where possible, potentially breaking down certain walls of hostility within the evangelical community."

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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0830815616
  2. Edition
    1st
  3. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  4. Publisher
    IVP Academic
  5. Publication date
    August 20, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    2666 KB
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is well focused, thoroughly researched, carefully argued, meticulously fair to differing views and profoundly biblical. I find it very persuasive."

-- Stephen R. Spencer, professor of systematic theology, Dallas Theolocial Seminary

"Teaching hermeneutics will never be quite the same after one reads this thought-provoking book. The ethical issues it explores raise even deeper questions of how to apply 'cultural background' in interpreting the Bible. Even those who differ on some details will find most of the book's arguments persuasive and helpful, and no one can afford to ignore the issues it raises."

-- Craig Keener, professor of New Testament, Eastern Seminary

"Webb has tackled some of the most difficult and controversial issues that have faced the Christian church. Some of these issues, such as the role of women in the church and the question of homosexuality, are especially hot topics today. What makes Webb's book special is that it attempts to work out the hermeneutics involved in distinguishing that which is merely cultural in Scripture from that which is timeless. In my estimation, Webb's insights constitute major, positive progress. This book is must reading."

-- Craig A. Evans, professor and director of the graduate program in biblical studies, Trinity Western University (Langley, British Columbia)

"This book successfully walks the reader through the hermeneutical maze that accompanies the treatment of each of these areas. The goal is not only to discuss how these groups are to be seen in light of Scripture but to make a case for a specific hermeneutical approach to reading these texts. Slaves, Women Homosexuals not only advances a discussion of the topics beyond current literature, it takes a markedly new direction toward establishing common ground where possible, potentially breaking down certain walls of hostility within the evangelical community."

-- Darrell L. Bock, research professor of New Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary (from the foreword)

Review

"The book is well focused, thoroughly researched, carefully argued, meticulously fair to differing views and profoundly biblical. I find it very persuasive."

-- Stephen R. Spencer, professor of systematic theology, Dallas Theolocial Seminary

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0022NGVSI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP Academic; 1st edition (August 20, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 20, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2666 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 292 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 157 ratings

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William J. Webb

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
157 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Alfonso Gilbert
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Pastors
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2015
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This is a great book for preachers and teachers who want to know which biblical rules should be applied today and which ones should not. Webb gives insight on how to reconcile morally difficult themes in Scripture. For example, he gives reasons why the Bible does not explicitly condemn the abuse of slaves, but makes a "redemptive-movement hermeneutic" towards a progressive liberation. He does this by comparing troubling practices in Israel with cruel practices from surrounding nations.

For example, God told Israel to free slaves after a number of years, whereas surrounding nations had no such legal laws. Such concessions by God did not condemn slavery but began a movement toward an ultimate ethic against it. Also, Israel gave few rights to wives which appear harsh by today's standards, but surrounding nations like Assyria and Babylon gave no rights to wives and husbands could mutilate, dismember, and drown them for simple neglect of the home. These concessions proved God to be extremely merciful in comparison to other ANE gods.

Regarding slaves, women, and homosexuals (and many other topics), Webb shows which practices are on a biblical trajectory toward liberation and which ones are still prohibited. This helps us determine which biblical principles are universal and which ones were intended to be culturally bound to Israel. Many controversial topics are covered. It is very well researched, very insightful, and very helpful for today's cultural application of the Bible. I highly recommend it!
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Stephen W. Hiemstra ﻦ
5.0 out of 5 stars Webb: Analyzing Culture in Scripture and in Life
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2014
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Toxic waste is a term once used in Washington to describe issues that could not be openly discussed without tainting the person discussing them. High on the list of such issues were race, gender, and sexuality. Hopefully, it is now possible to engage in reasoned conversation about these issues. William Webb's book Slaves, Women and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermaneutics of Cultural Analysis clearly attempts to begin that conversation.

Webb begins with a question and an answer. The question is: So how does a Christian respond to cultural change? His answer is: It is necessary for Christians to challenge their culture where it departs from kingdom values; it is equally necessary for them to identify with their culture on all other matters (22). The tough part arises in distinguishing: between kingdom values and cultural values within the biblical text (23). This is what Webb sees as the interpretative (hermaneutical) task.

Webb applies his hermaneutical framework primarily to 3 issues: slavery, women, and homosexuality. He picks slavery because he believes the issue to be settled within today's church. Clearly, the role of women and the issue of homosexuality are under active conversation—at least across denominations and, in some cases, within denominations.

Webb (26-28) defines these 4 positions as held on the role of women within the church:

o Hard/strong patriarchy—unilateral submission of women with an extensive power differential;
o Soft patriarchy—unilateral submission of women with a moderate power differential;
o Evangelical egalitarianism—mutual submission with equality of power between male and female; and
o Secular egalitarianism—equal rights and no gender-defined roles.

Webb (28) likewise defines 3 positions within the church on issue of homosexuality:

o Marital heterosexuality only—homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle for Christians;
o Covenant and equal-partner homosexuality—homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle for Christians provided that the partners are equal-status, consenting adults, and the relationship is one of a monogamous, covenant, and lasting kind; and
o Casual adult homosexuality—homosexuality is an appropriate lifestyle for any member of society provided it involves consenting adults.
In laying out these positions, Webb is simply defining the field of inquiry. He is not at least initially advocating for any one of these positions. Near the end of the text, however, he identifies himself as an evangelical egalitarian on women's issues and argues for a marital hetersexuality only position with respect to homosexuality.

An important contribution of Webb's work is a concept that he calls as a redemptive-movement hermaneutic. In defining this concept, he outlines a model: X=>Y=>Z. The X stands for the original culture; the Y stands for scripture; and the Z stands for the ultimate ethic (30-33). This model permits us to ask 2 important questions. First, does scripture move beyond the cultures of surrounding nations in addressing an issue? (X=>Y) Second, does scripture point to an ethic beyond that actually embodied in scripture? (Y=>Z) These 2 questions allow us to isolate the redemptive movement implied in the text of scripture. Webb uses this model to examine several scriptural passages that today sound bizarre, but which would have been at least slightly redemptive to the original audience. One example was the taking of female prisoners as spoils of war:

"When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hand and you take them captive, and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you desire to take her to be your wife, and you bring her home to your house, she shall shave her head and pare her nails. And she shall take off the clothes in which she was captured and shall remain in your house and lament her father and her mother a full month. After that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. But if you no longer delight in her, you shall let her go where she wants. But you shall not sell her for money, nor shall you treat her as a slave, since you have humiliated her. (Deuteronomy 21:10-14 ESV)

Webb (32-33) argues that this is clearly an ugly text in today's culture, but in relation to the customs of ancient times was redemptive in its application under the X=>Y criteria.

Today's application of the text would not follow the exact words prescribed in the text, but rather to observe the redemptive spirit of the text and draft an appropriately redemptive, modern policy dealing with female captives (33). Webb describes an attempt to apply the exact words of the scriptural text in a new context as a "static" interpretation (36-38). Ignoring the redemptive spirit of the text leads to wooden or misleading interpretations and may lead to the text being discredited in the eyes of believers and non-believers alike. Clearly, much more could be said about this redemptive-movement hermaneutic.

Webb writes his book in 8 chapters preceded by a foreword, acknowledgments, and an introduction and followed by a conclusion, 4 appendices, a bibliography, and a scriptural index. The chapters are:

1. Christian and Culture;
2. A Redemptive-Movement Hermaneutic;
3. Cultural/Transcultural Analysis: A Road Map;
4. Persuative Criteria;
5. Moderately Persuasive Criteria;
6. Inconclusive Criteria;
7. Persuasive Extracriptural Criteria;
8. What If I Am Wrong; and
9. Conclusion: Arriving at a Bottom Line.
The foreword is written by Darrell L. Bock of the Dallas Theological Seminary.

Webb's Slaves, Women and Homosexuals is a readable and engaging text that focuses on applying scripture rather than simply arguing over it. It is gutsy for a writer to take on the ugly texts of scripture and to find both redemption and application in them. Personally, my initial response was to reject cultural analysis because it lies outside the twin authorities of scripture and God's direct revelation. However, I realized that I was guilty myself of discounting or skipping over the difficult texts rather than engaging them. In effect, I was already doing cultural analysis, just not employing a consistent method. This internal struggle led me to reconsider Webb's analysis.

I am sure that some readers will simply not be able to engage in conversation about politically incorrect topics, but I would challenge them to stretch their own views a bit for the sake of understanding scripture better. Webb's own words are helpful when he says: I must thank our modern culture for raising the issues addressed in this book. But our cultural only raises the issues...it does not resolve them (245).
94 people found this helpful
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Keen Incite
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Contribution to Women and Homosexuals in the Church
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2007
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The goal of most who study the Bible is to dig out those timeless concepts that provide the truth and wisdom necessary to live a holy, joyful and obedient life in the eyes of God. Most of these concepts are easy to discern, however, there are some "borderline" concepts that have been the basis of disagreement among theologians. These disagreements usually center around whether a particular issue described in Scripture is culturally based, (meaning it applied to the culture in which it was written exclusively and therefore, no longer applicable to today's Christian,) or transcultural (meaning it applies at all times in all locations in any culture.) Christians have separated and established new denominations based on these disagreements - such as the Seventh-Day Adventist's insistence on Saturday worship and the Brethren Church's elevation of foot-washing to a sacrament. How can the typical Christian determine what aspects of Scripture are cultural and which are timeless?

William J. Webb's "Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermenuetics of Cultural Analysis" attempts to answer this very question. In this systematic and logically-tight text, Webb presents his argument for what he describes as a "redemptive hermeneutic" using 18 different criteria to determine the directional "redemptive flow" of Scripture on any given topic, thereby being able to determine what aspects are culturally-based and which are transcultural.

For each criterion, Webb uses what he describes as "neutral" issues (issues that have been settled in the Church, such as slavery,) as examples of how the criterion works. He then applies it to two issues still in contention today - women's place in the Church and the legitimacy of homosexuality. He divides these 18 criteria into four groups - persuasive, moderately persuasive, inconclusive and persuasive extrascriptural.

I have never been a seminary student, but I was still able to understand Webb's argument based on the criteria he used. It was convincing to me (though I always get nervous when anyone attempts to use extrabiblical sources, since I believe the Bible is contextually self-sufficient.) I did, however, approach this text already agreeing with his conclusions on women and homosexuals.

This is a fascinating text for those who want to take the time and the mental energy to learn more about the arguments surrounding the two controversies addressed in this book. Whatever your stance, you are bound to have your mind expanded by tackling the criteria used in Webb's argument.
73 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Well argued
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2023
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This is an excellent introduction to the way in which culture shaped the Bible and how we can interpret scripture today. It is moderately technical but very enlightening.
A small point, but I would have appreciated more discussion of literary genre although this was present to some extent.
I wish this had been available when I was studying theology.
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J Titterington
5.0 out of 5 stars A thinking person's book
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2020
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This is a though-provoking book which teaches one method of Biblical interpretation. It provides some examples, as any good book would do.
Some people will disagree with the method, some with the conclusions reached in the examples. Fair enough, if people think about them rather than parrot a response.
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Tim Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on October 25, 2015
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One of the best books on biblical interpretation I have read.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Much needed book on what the bible has to say on some contentious issues.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2020
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This book is for academics and I found it a bit dry and dense in places. However the systematic approach to looking at these subjects in the bible was excellent. The author looks at key verses and local contexts and take the reader through whether they stand for all time or whether there is evidence that these laws are on a developing spectrum. Using consistent methods he examines the topics in great detail. As a woman I found his treatment of passages relating to women’s roles enlightening. I didn’t agree that the creation story indicates a form of patriarchy that is being redeemed but appreciated the trajectory of travel. The themes are still contested in today’s society so worth a look particularly if you really want to know what the bible says and not just what you want it to say.
2 people found this helpful
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LJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2016
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Very helpful and informative
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